Prior to the beginning of the 2015 Class AAAAA state semifinals, Allatoona quarterback Brandon Rainey made a bold but prophetic statement.
“I will not be the second best quarterback on this field tonight,” he either yelled or said.
Ask Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator Xarvia Smith, and he said Rainey screamed it at the top of his lungs from the middle of the field. Ask Rainey, and he admits he said it, but maybe not quite as loud as Smith remembers.
The reason was Rainey knew he had his work cut out for him. He was about to match wits with future Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, who had led Houston County to an 11-1 record heading into the game. Behind Fromm, the Bears had been held to fewer than 34 points only once that year.
“I said it,” Rainey said. “I was the leader and I wanted to